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nmslib / hnswlib

Header-only C++/python library for fast approximate nearest neighbors
https://github.com/nmslib/hnswlib
Apache License 2.0
4.27k stars 630 forks source link

Does the patent limit use? #588

Open charlesrwest opened 1 week ago

charlesrwest commented 1 week ago

Hello!

This looks like an awesome open source library. If I may ask, can I use it for commercial projects or does the patent open me to getting sued if I do?

Thanks!

searchivarius commented 1 week ago

Which patent specifically?

charlesrwest commented 1 week ago

"The update algorithm supported in this repository is to be published in "Dynamic Updates For HNSW, Hierarchical Navigable Small World Graphs" US Patent 15/929,802 by Apoorv Sharma, Abhishek Tayal and Yury Malkov."

Are you likely to be sued if you use this in your software?

apoorv-sharma commented 1 week ago

To address your concern, the patent "Dynamic Updates For HNSW, Hierarchical Navigable Small World Graphs" (US Patent 15/929,802) is currently an open patent and we are waiting for notification for the approval. There’s absolutely no need to worry about legal issues or potential lawsuits. You’re free to use the library in your commercial projects without any concern.